Friday, August 29, 2008

What we need is a cup of understanding, a barrel of love, and an ocean of patience.

St. Francis de Sales

TODAY’S ACTION

Remember that happiness is a way of travel - not a destination.

Roy Goodman

TODAY’S QUOTE

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

Chili Davis

HAPPY FRIDAY !!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DS#1

May the dear Lord bless you today and always!

Yesterday was a very gloomy ole day. It drizzled rain off and on and was on the chilly side. Today is supposed to be warmer, but still a chance of rain.

This weekend however is supposed to be beautiful. I’ll be going to the campground after work today and will not return until sometime Tuesday afternoon. I have Tuesday as a vacation day.

The babes have planned a luau theme for the weekend. It’s our last hurrah to summer and a welcome to fall I guess. DS#5 and his wife will be joining us camping for the weekend. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend and safe travels.

Please join me in praying for those in danger of the tropical storm that could become a hurricane. Hopefully it will not strengthen and become a threat.

I’ll be back with the newsletter on Wednesday morning !

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU!

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…LEMON JUICE DAY

Lemons originated in Southeast Asia and spread westward to India and the Mediterranean . Columbus brought the first seeds to the New World in 1493. Nobody knows when they got to the US , but lemons were growing in Florida in 1579. Of all the citrus fruits, lemons are the most detoxifying

LEMON SALAD

2 cups crushed pineapple, drained (save juice)

1 pkg lemon jello

1 tablespoon (1 envelope) gelatin

2 tablespoons cold water juice of

1 lemon

1/4 cup chopped pimento

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 stalk celery, diced

24 miniature marshmellows

1 pkg Dream Whip

6 oz. cream cheese

1. In a large mixing bowl, soften the gelatin in 2 tablespoons of cold water. 2. Add enough water to the pineapple juice to make 2 cups of liquid. Heat to boiling in a saucepan. Dump the package of jellow in the bowl with the gelatin. Pour the boiling liquid over both and stir until dissolved. Stir in the lemon juice and chill until partially set. 3. In a separate bowl, mix the pineapple with the cream cheese, pimento, nuts and celery. Add this to the partially set jello mixture. Add the marshmallows. Whip the Dream Whip and fold in last. Spoon into a large dish and chill for 12 hours before serving.

TODAY’S TRIVIA

According to Hoyle Day - Edmond Hoyle's "Short Treatise" on the game of Whist was published on this day in 1742

More Herbs, Less Salt Day - For better health, cut down on salt and flavor with herbs

1964 Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins" released

1964 - Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman was released. It hit number one (for 3 weeks) on September 26th and became the biggest of his career. Oh, Pretty Woman was Orbison’s second #1 hit.

TODAY’S SMILE

Andy wants a job as a signalman on the railways. He is told to meet the inspector at the signal box. The inspector puts this question to him: "What would you do if you realised that 2 trains were heading for each other on the same track?"

Andy says, "I would switch the points for one of the trains." "What if the lever broke?" asked the inspector. "Then I'd dash down out of the signal box," said Andy, "and I'd use the manual lever over there." "What if that had been struck by lightning?" "Then," Andy continues, "I'd run back into the signal box and phone the next signal box."

"What if the phone was engaged?"

"Well in that case," persevered Andy, "I'd rush down out of the box and use the public emergency phone at the level crossing up there." "What if that was vandalised?" "Oh well then I'd run into the village and get my uncle Silas."

This puzzles the inspector, so he asks, "Why would you do that?" Came the answer, "Because he's never seen a train crash."

One More…

A little girl came home late for supper. Her mother made the expected irate parent's demand to know where she had been. The little girl replied that she had stopped to help Janie, whose bicycle was broken in a fall.

Not many of us know anything about fixing bicycles, either. And when our friends have fallen and broken, not their bicycles but their lives, NONE of us knows how to fix that.

We simply cannot "fix" someone else's life, even though that's what we would like most to do. But like the little girl, we can stop to help them cry. That is the best we can do. And that is a lot!

TODAY’S WORD

mé·lange noun

A mixture:

French, from Old French meslance, from mesler, to mix

TODAY’S REFLECTION

The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.

Mark 12:10

In years gone by horse shoe nails were common and important. Today horses have no input in our public transport system. It was so different years ago and horse shoe nails could often be found at the side of the road.

Benjamin Franklin in one of his poems wrote: “For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost.”

One nail here made all the difference. So often each day it’s the humble one that can make all the difference. It could be a simple smile, a word of thanks, a little gift, a text, a phone call, a hug, a get well wish, a prayer and so on.

On its own it may look insignificant but it often will turn out to be the most important of all.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

A friend knows the song of my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.

Anonymous

TODAY’S ACTION

Keep company with people who inspire you

TODAY’S QUOTE

One of the greatest gifts you can give to anyone is the gift of attention.

Jim Rohn

HAPPY THURSDAY !!

Believe it or not we did get a little rain. They said it was the remnants of tropical storm Fay. I see another storm is headed toward the gulf. I’ll be praying that the storm calms and doesn’t become the hurricane it could be.

Wednesday was a long day. I stayed up late Tuesday evening watching Hilary on the TV. I wanted to watch Bill too, but just couldn’t do 2 late nights in a row. Hopefully today will be a little better.

I will be getting a hair cut after work then when I get home I’m supposed to take the beagle for his annual booster shots. Thankfully the vet has some evening hours.

Take good care all !

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS… TALL BUILDING DAY

Throughout history, people built "up" - the ancient pyramids, the cathedrals of Europe and countless towers. Today, we build skyscrapers because they put lots of real estate in a small ground area. So, what's the tallest builing? The Petronas Towers in Malaysia win at 1,483 ft each. But, the top part of this structure is only decorative. Many people vote for the Sears Tower in Chicago because it has the highest occupied floor (1,431 ft) and the highest traditional roof (1,454 ft.).

1774: Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint, was born in New York City

1907 United Parcel Service begins service, in Seattle

1963 - Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in the shadows of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington , DC . Some 250,000 people witnessed one of the most stirring speeches of the century

TODAY’S SMILE

On the 6th day, God created men & women. On the 7th day, He rested. Not so much to recuperate, but rather to prepare himself for the work He was going to do the next day. For it was on the 8th day that God created the teacher.

The teacher, though taken from among men and women had several significant modifications. In general, God made the teacher more durable than other men and women. The teacher was made to arise at a very early hour and to go to bed no earlier than 11:30 PM. With no rest in between.

The teacher had to be able to withstand being locked up in an air-tight room with 35 little monsters on a rainy Monday. And the teacher had to be able to correct 103 term papers over Easter vacation.

Yes, God made the teacher tough - but gentle too. The teacher was equipped with soft hands to wipe away the tears of the neglected and lonely student... of the 16 year old girl who was not asked to the prom. And into the teacher God poured a generous amount of patience. Patience when a student asks to repeat the directions the teacher has just repeated for someone else. Patience when the kids forget their lunch money for the 4th day in a row. Patience when 1/3 of the class fails the test. Patience when the text books haven't arrived yet, and the semester starts tomorrow.

And God gave the teacher a heart slightly bigger than the average human heart. For the teacher's heart had to be big enough to love the kid who screams, "I hate this class - it's boring!" and to love the kid who runs out of the class at the end of the period without so much as a good bye or a thank you.

And lastly, God gave the teacher an abundant supply of hope. For God knew that the teacher would always be hoping. Hoping that the students would one day learn to spell... Hoping not to have lunchroom duty... hoping that Friday would come... hoping for a free day... hoping for deliverance.

When God finished creating the teacher, He stepped back and admired the work of His hands. And God saw that the teacher was good. Very Good. And God smiled, for when He looked at the teacher, He saw into the future. He knew that the future is in the hands of the teachers.

And because God loves teachers so much, on the 9th day God created.... "SNOW DAYS"

Naif comes from French, from Old French naif, "naive, natural, just born," from Latin nativus, "native, rustic," literally "born, inborn, natural," from Latin nativus, "inborn, produced by birth," from natus, past participle of nasci, to be born

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Jesus made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.

Philippians 2:7

According to Jesus, it’s what God thinks of us that matters, not what others think. Jesus instructed us to pray in a closed room, where no one could see us, rather than in a public place where we might get credit for being spiritual (Matt. 6:6).

In other words, live for God and not others. Do we clamor for attention and achievement? Jesus invites us to let go of that competitive struggle, to trust that God’s opinion of us is the only one that ultimately counts.

Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.

W. H. Auden

HAPPY WEDNESDAY !!

OVER THE HUMP DAY !

We go over the Hump to the down hill slide into the weekend. Usually my week ends on a pretty quiet level, but this Friday I’ll be doing the Payroll for Monday. Yikes, 2 payrolls in one week! Since Monday is a holiday and since our guys like to be paid on time, I will be doing payroll again.

We do have a chance for rain today. Hopefully it will come our way otherwise I’ll be watering again. The good news is that the weekend forecast shows mostly sunny though Monday! We had so much rain the beginning of the camping season that this is a welcome relief. I may even get a chance to renew my sun tan again.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…BANANA LOVERS DAY

Banana plants are grown in just about every tropical place - and make up the 4th largest fruit crop in the world. A plant needs 10 - 15 months of frost-free conditions to produce a flower stalk. Most varieties will stop growing when the temperature drops below 60° F of above 100°. High in potassium, bananas are easy to eat and are a great additional to any meal

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Born in Albania on this day in 1910 was the girl who grew up to be Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who worked with the poorest of the poor in India. The Catholic nun founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, which cared for the destitute in Calcutta. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and died in Calcutta in 1997. Her birth name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu.

A journalist once asked Mother Teresa why she bothered working with the poor in Calcutta, because it was all just a drop in the ocean - there being millions of poor people in India. Mother Teresa said in reply that she was not concerned with a big way of doing things - she was concerned with individuals: “This person”, she pointed to someone, “thinks it makes all the difference!”

Saint Monica Feast Day - The mother of Saint Augustine, she is patron saint of married women and mothers, especially difficult children. Saint Monica was born to a Christian family in Tagaste, Africa in 332 AD

1912: Edgar Rice Burroughs published his first magazine story about an abandoned English boy raised by African apes. Tarzan, "King of the Jungle," became one of the 20th centuries’ best-known fictional characters

1921 - J.E. Clair, who owned the Acme Packing Company, bought a pro football franchise for Green Bay, WI. Cheeseheads could have been their name, but he decided to pay tribute to those who packed the meat at his processing plant. Hence the name: the Green Bay Packers

1985: The space shuttle Discovery blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a seven-day mission that included the launch of three satellites, and the retrieval, repair and redeployment of another

As we seek to live for our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, we should also show our colors of allegiance and appreciation for all He has done for us. But how? What are the “colors” that declare to the world that we serve the King of kings and Lord of lords?

The night before His crucifixion, King Jesus told us what our “colors” should be when He said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). His disciple John echoed this when he wrote, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

When we display Christ’s love for our fellow believers, it is more than just kindness or care. It is one of the most tangible ways we can show our love and devotion for the Savior. As we interact with fellow Christ-followers, let’s be sure to show our colors. That will honor our King before a watching world

I made it through another Monday. Now the rest of the week will be easy. Going to work yesterday I noticed more traffic on the road. Must be because so many schools started this week. The weather here is beautiful and in the mid – 70’s during the day and mid 50’s at night. DS#4 called to say that in the middle of September he’ll be coming our way for business and he hopes to be able to spend the weekend at the campground with us. It will just be him as it’s a business trip.

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU !

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…HORSESHOE DAY

Horseshoes were invented by the Greeks and discovered by Western culture in the 4th century. Beyond their intended use, they became a universal symbol for good luck - a superstition that lasted well into the 1800s. The most popular practice was nailing a horseshoe over the front door of a house - pointed upward so the luck wouldn't fall out. Even Lord Nelson nailed a horseshoe on the mast of his command ship before the Battle of Trafalgar.

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Women's Equality Day, marking approval on August 26, 1920, of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. In Massachusetts it's Susan B. Anthony Day

Today is National Dog Day, a day to appreciate humankind's most popular pet as loving and loyal companions, pets who treat us better than we treat each other

Today is Make Your Own Luck Day, a day to take affirmative action to improve your life

Today is National Cherry Popsicle Day

1498 - The master artist, Michelangelo, was commissioned to make the Pieta.

1842 - The U.S. Congress established the fiscal year, which begins on July 1st

1873 - The first public school kindergarten in the U.S. was authorized by the school board of St. Louis, MO

1957: Ford produced the first of 110,847 Edsel automobiles. Named for Edsel Bryant Ford, the model never really caught on

1968: Jeannie C. Riley was awarded a gold record for "Harper Valley PTA

1991: A Gallup Poll revealed that ice-cream lovers take more baths and are less likely to be nervous than people who seldom eat ice cream.

1996: The electronics giant Philips unveiled a new television, the FlatTV, which could be hung on a wall as if it were a painting

TODAY’S SMILE

Advice From The Wise Man

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

Berate is from be-, "thoroughly" + rate, "to scold, to chide," from Middle English raten

TODAY’S REFLECTION

We are his workmanship.

Ephesians 2:10

Scripture calls the church a poem. “We are His workmanship” (Eph. 2:10). Workmanship descends from the Greek word poeo or poetry. We are God’s poetry! What Longfellow did with pen and paper, our Maker does with us. We express his creativity best.

You aren’t God’s poetry. I’m not God’s poetry. We are God’s poetry. Poetry demands variety. “God works through different men in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purposes through them all” (I Cor. 12:6 Phillips). God uses all types to type his message. Logical thinkers. Emotional worshipers. Dynamic leaders. Docile followers. The visionaries who lead, the studious who ponder, the generous who pay the bills…

Alone, we are meaningless symbols on a page. But collectively, we inspire.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2

By Max Lucado

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

To dream of a plow indicates a new project

27 DAYS UNTIL FALL !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

Monday, August 25, 2008

In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit.

Anne Frank

TODAY’S ACTION

Waste not fresh tears, over old griefs

TODAY’S QUOTE

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

Groucho Marx

HAPPY MONDAY !!

It is back to work once more and this week is going to be a long one. I have 5 work days this week and after have 2 short work weeks in a row it will be hard to take for sure. The good news is that we have a holiday weekend coming up and so after I get through the 5 days I’ll be having 4 days off.

A week from today will be our Labor Day holiday and then I’ve taken Tuesday off as a vacation day. Next week will only have 3 days of work and so I’ll just be counting my blessings and looking forward to next week.

There is nothing on my calendar for after work this week, so I’ll have some extra time to get some things done here at home. Friday is DS#1’s birthday so we’ll be celebrating that when I get to the campground after work. I promised to take dinner to him as a birthday treat. He has requested ‘Mr.Hero’ sandwiches, so I won’t have to cook, just pick up the order and take it to him.

Hope you all had a great weekend and are ready for a new week! Some in my family, both teachers and students, will be back to school today so I hope their new school year will be off to a great start.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU!

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…SOY BEAN DAY

Soybeans are the only bean that contain the same proteins as meat - plus immune system builders. Originating in China, it was a staple food crop in the Far East for thousands of years. Introduced to the US in the early 1800s, it is now a leading crop right behind corn and wheat. Cooked Soybeans can be substituted for diced meat in any recipe - if you can get used to the taste

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Kiss and Make Up Day, a day to mend broken relationships

The Democratic National Convention begins today in Denver

1916: The National Park Service was established within the Department of the Interior

1984 - The Cabbage Patch Kids and Trivial Pursuit were replaced by the latest fad toys: robotic action figures that fought galactic battles. They were called Transformers

TODAY’S SMILE

Never eat more than you can lift.

Miss Piggy

TODAY’S WORD

comity \KOM-uh-tee\, noun:

1. A state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect, especially between or among nations or people; civility.

2. The courteous recognition by one nation of the laws and institutions of another.

3. The group of nations observing international comity

Comity is from Latin comitas, from comis, courteous

TODAY’S REFLECTION

They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.

Mark 7:31

In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy are on their way to school. It's show and tell day. Lucy asks Linus if he has remembered to bring anything for show and tell. "Yes," Linus answers, "I have a couple of things here to show the class." He then unfolds some papers. "These are copies I've been making of some of the Dead Sea scrolls," he says. Holding them up for Charlie Brown and Lucy to inspect he continues. "This is a duplicate of the scroll of Isaiah, chapters 38-40. It was made from 17 pieces of sheep skin and was found in a cave by a Bedouin shepherd." Pulling out another piece of paper he says, "Here I have made a copy of the earliest known fragment ever found. It's a portion of I Samuel 23: 9-16. I'll try to explain to the class how these manuscripts have influenced modern scholarship." Lucy responds, "Very interesting, Linus," and she turns to Charlie Brown and asks, "Are you bringing something for show and tell Charlie Brown?" "Well," says a dejected Charlie Brown, "I had a little red fire engine here but I think I'll just forget it." Do you think Charlie Brown did his best by giving up? His red fire engine would have been a great way to talk about fire safety or to address some other fire relate issue, but by giving up Charlie Brown was not doing his best. Our theme for the day comes from words spoken about Jesus. After he had taught and after he had healed, the people said, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." What more can anybody ask of us than to do our best? What more can God ask of us than for us to do our best? http://www.devotions.net

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

The faster a cricket chirps, the warmer the temperature

28 DAYS UNTIL FALL !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

I do not understand the mystery of grace--only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us.

Anne Lamott

TODAY’S ACTION

Be thankful for all you are learning, and grateful to all those who are teaching you

TODAY’S QUOTE

The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.

Blaise Pascal

HAPPY THURSDAY !!

I had a great time at the fair with DD and her hubby last night.

This evening after work I head for the campground.

The word is that it is hot dog fest time on Friday evening so I’ll be making some good chili sauce to have on them. It seems we all have hot dogs in our freezer and it’s time to use them up.

We always eat way too well every weekend and I’ve probably gained another 10 pounds this summer. I never eat so much when I’m home. I’ll just wear clothing with looser waistlines I guess. Dieting is impossible.

Maybe in the fall I’ll get more exercise raking leaves.

Take good care all and I’ll see you as always with my newsletter come Monday morning.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU !

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…DISTILLED WATER DAY

Distilled water is the purest water available. It's just water - plain old H2O. Everything else is removed when it's converted from liquid to steam during the distillation process. It has no taste, so using it can bring out the flavor of your coffee, tea or food. And it won't leave mineral deposits to clog up your coffee pot. The only problem is... since we are used to drinking water out of the tap, it doesn't taste like water

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Cadillac Day. The first Cadillac was built on this day in 1902

Today is National Spumoni Day

Today is Hawaii Day. Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state on this date in 1959

1887: Phillies’ pitcher Dan Casey struck out in the 9th inning of a game against the New York Giants. The event inspired Ernest L. Thayer to write the classic poem "Casey at the Bat."

1935: Benny Goodman, introducing a new "big-band" jazz style, opened at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles and was hailed as "The King of Swing." The swing era had begun

TODAY’S SMILE

You lovers of the English language might enjoy this:

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?

We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning.

People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing:

A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so... time to shut UP...!

TODAY’S WORD

bruit \BROOT\, transitive verb:

To report; to noise abroad

Bruit comes from Old French, from the past participle of bruire, to roar

TODAY’S REFLECTION

You shall be my people and I will be your God.

EZEKIEL 36: 23-28

From all eternity, O Lord, you are, and you chose me to be your own. St Paul says: ‘whether we live or die then we belong to the Lord.’ God chose each of us individually, but he did not call us in isolation.

We were to be his people, his family, each of us endowed with power to think and love, each of us gifted to be God’s adopted son or daughter loved as only God can love.

We are highly privileged to be God’s chosen ones. That privilege brings responsibilities, firstly to strive always to love and obey out heavenly father, standing firm in and ready to share with others the faith that God has entrusted to us

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Try drinking nettle tea to relieve hay fever

32 DAYS UNTIL FALL !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. It's our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit.

Mary Lou Retton

HAPPY WEDNESDAY !!

OVER THE HUMP DAY!

After today I only have one more day til my 3 day weekend. Wednesdays are usually pretty good days at work. Any more they are all it seems.

Last summer I barely had time to do what I did do, but this summer is a totally different story. I don’t know if that is good or bad. Our work really slows down when bad weather comes so I don’t know what I’ll be doing then.

Mean while I’ll look forward to enjoying the days at the camper and be thankful for vacation days.

I’m off to our county fair this evening after work with DD and her hubby . Hopefully, I’ll get some pictures to share.

Take good care all !

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…THOMAS EDISON DAY

Thomas Alva Edison was the world's greatest inventor. Born in 1847, in Milan, Ohio, he patented 1,093 inventions. The most famous was the light bulb, but he also developed the first phonograph and kinetoscope (for viewing moving film). In tribute to his genius, electric lights in the U.S. were dimmed for one minute on October 21, 1931, a few days after his death

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day

National Lemonade Day

1741 - Alaska was discovered by Danish navigator Vitus Jonas Bering. That’s how the Bering Sea got its name

1960: Singer Connie Francis made her acting debut on the set of the movie Where the Boys Are

TODAY’S SMILE

DOESN’T IT FEEL GOOD?

Falling in love.

Laughing so hard your face hurts.

A hot shower.

No lines at the Super Wal-Mart or SAKS.

A special glance.

Getting mail.

Taking a drive on a pretty road.

Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

Hot towels out of the dryer.

Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.

A Chocolate Milkshake. (or vanilla!)

A long distance phone call.

A bubble bath.

Giggling.

A good conversation.

The beach.

Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter.

Laughing at yourself.

Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

Running through sprinklers.

Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.

Laughing at an inside joke.

Friends.

Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

Your first kiss.

Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

Playing with a new puppy.

Having someone play with your hair.

Sweet dreams.

Hot chocolate with Marshmallows.

Road trips with friends.

Swinging on swings.

Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking eggnog.

Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid.

Going to a really good concert.

Making eye contact with an attractive stranger.

Winning a really competitive game.

Making chocolate chip cookies.

Having your friends send you homemade cookies.

Holding hands with someone you care about.

Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

Riding the best roller coasters over and over.

Watching the sunrise.

Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.

TODAY’S WORD

aestival \ES-tuh-vuhl\, adjective:

Of or belonging to the summer; as, aestival diseases From the Latin æstas, summer

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Did we not agree on one denarius?

Matthew 20:1-16

God’s reward for our efforts is generously given and we are truly grateful. That is until we see a Johnny-come-lately extended the same generosity. ‘Not fair!’ we cry. We seethe with jealousy and fume over the apparent favoritism. ‘I’ve worked a whole day, yet she’s just worked an hour!’ ‘I’ve been an honest man my whole life, but he only reformed a few months ago!’

Through his parable of the vineyard laborers, Jesus is reminding us that we must work well and humbly in all we do through life, and not pass judgment on the efforts of others. Does not God decide how we are each rewarded for our efforts?

On reflection, Jesus’ story gives us hope rather than cause for concern. One day we just might be the Johnny-come-lately ourselves. Surely then we would welcome not a percentage, but the fullness of God’s love and forgiveness

Daily Prayer Online – Reflection on the daily Gospel

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

If red the Sun begins his race, expect the rain will flow apace

33 DAYS UNTIL FALL !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your

Heart Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

We had another beautiful summer day to enjoy on Monday. After work this evening I’ll be going to my dulcimer get together. We usually meet once a month until January, February and March when the weather is unpredictable and cold. Then we take a break. I for one do not like to go out on cold snowy dark nights.

For now though, the weather is so nice and I try to get outside every evening even though it is mostly in my own backyard. That is until the weekend then it’s mostly outside except for sleeping. My camper is small, but that’s ok as little time is spent in it.

I try to make the most of what remains of summer because before we know it ‘cabin fever’ time will be here again.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU !

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…SPICEY FOOD DAY

The spices in the hot foods we eat are oily. And, we all know that oil and water don't mix. So, what can you do to cool down a hot mouth? Try one of these... Eat bread - it will absorb the oily spices. Drink milk - it contains "casein" that binds the spices and carries them away

SPICY CRAB NACHOS

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 garlic cloves, pealed and sliced 1/2 small onion, slices

salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup bottled clam juice

1 cup heavy or whipping cream

2 canned chipotle chiles, rinsed

1 cup (4 oz) grated Romano cheese

1 cup (4 oz) grated Monterey Jack cheese

10 oz crab meat

8 oz tortilla chips (3 handfuls)

1/2 bunch cilantro leaves (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2. Melt butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and onions with salt and pepper for about 5 minutes. Pour in the clam juice and boil until the liquid is reduced by half (2-3 minutes).

3. Add the cream and cook over high heat until thick enough to coat a spoon. Stir in the chipotle chilies and remove from heat. Put the mixture into a blender and puree. Return to skillet and stir in 1/2 cup of each kind of cheese.

4. Place the skillet over medium heat and stir in the crabmeat. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Stir in the tortilla chips.

5. Transfer to a large casserole dish. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Place in oven for 5 minutes to melt the cheese. Garnish with cilantro if desired.

(Chiles are too hot for me, but the rest of the recipe sounds delicious)

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Aviation Day, always on Orville Wright’s birthday. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, August 19, 1871

Today is Snuffleupagus's birthday. The big hairy thing on Sesame Street. His first name is Aloysius, but most call him Mr. Snuffleupagus. He has a sister named Alice and his grandmother lives in Cincinnati. His friends call him Snuffy. His best friend is Big Bird, but he also has a friend named Rosalyn. Snuffy's favorite foods are cabbage and spaghetti

Today is National Soft Ice Cream Day

Today is Black Cow Day, marking creation of the first "black cow" root beer float on this day in 1893 in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Frank Wisner, owner of Cripple Creek Brewing, was the creator 1856 - Gail Borden of Brooklyn, NY patented his process for condensed milk The familiar flat- topped cans of Borden’s condensed milk are still available, as are Borden’s ice cream, cheese and other products -- all with the seal of approval by Borden’s famous mascot, Elsie, the cow

TODAY’S SMILE

A little Story your may have already heard, but it bears repeating I think…

There was a couple who went to England to shop in a beautiful antique store. This trip was to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially tea-cups.

Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful. As the lady handed it to them and suddenly the tea-cup spoke, "You don't understand" It said, "I have not always been a tea-cup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay.

My master took me and rolled me pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, Don't do that. I don't like it! "Let me alone," but he only smiled, nd gently said; "Not yet!!" "Then. WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. 'Stop it ! I'm getting so dizzy! I'm going to be sick!', I screamed.

But the master only nodded and said, quietly; 'Not yet. 'He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then...... Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. " Help! Get me out of here!" I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, 'Not yet'."

When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought. But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me allover. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Oh, please; Stop it, Stop it!!' I cried.

He only shook his head and said. 'Not yet!'. Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited------- and waited, wondering "What's he going to do to me next?"

An hour later he handed me a mirror and said 'Look at yourself.' And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful!

"Quietly he spoke: "I want you to remember, then," he said, "I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.

I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held.

Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you. "

The moral of this story is this: God knows what He's doing [for each of us ]. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life seems to "stink", try this.... Brew a cup of your favorite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down and think of this story and then, have a little talk with the Potter.

TODAY’S WORD

knell \NEL\, verb:

1. The stroke of a bell tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a passing bell; hence, figuratively, a warning of, or a sound indicating, the passing away of anything.

intransitive verb:

1. To sound as a knell; especially, to toll at a death or funeral; hence, to sound as a warning or evil omen

From the Old English cnyll, cnell, the sound of bells

TODAY’S REFLECTION

What about me?

Matthew 19: 23-30

Jesus’ disciples gather around him solemnly, observing intently. Jesus’ compassionate and knowing gaze anchors the rich young man in place, taking in his eagerness and determination. His shoulders slump, the burden of opportunity at least as heavy as his coin-filled purse.

Furtive glances pass between the disciples, mirroring their growing confusion and unease. ‘If it takes more than a camel … what about us?’ The disciples’ wonderfully human and vulnerable fears are soothed by Jesus’ reassurance, reassurance that speaks to us today.

For too long, people believed God’s love was to be earned, attached to laws and external demonstrations as much as others were to their wealth. Jesus reminds us that it is God’s undying unconditional love that draws us to him—and love is what will bring us home

Online Prayer – Reflections on the Daily Gospel

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

August's birthstone is the peridot, sometimes called the evening emerald for its light green color

34 DAYS UNTIL FALL !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!